The NBA regular season is coming to an end, and still has plenty of drama left with only seeds 1st and 2nd being set in each conference. With the battle for 3rd through 8th seeds still alive, it should be an enticing race to the finish line. The competition in the league is at an all-time high with any team being vulnerable throughout the playoffs. Even the reigning NBA champions, Golden State Warriors, who have won 2 of the last 3 titles, can potentially be knocked out in the first round with former MVP Stephen Curry missing the first round!
There are 5 teams that can truly be a dark horse in the playoffs this year that don’t get proper recognition. Here are those 5 teams with qualities to make a deep run.
Philadelphia 76ers:
Now most NBA fans would instantly think that the youth they have will make them an easy out in the first two rounds. Not so fast! They are loaded with talent and have a lineup that could cause a lot of matchup problems to a lot of teams in the entire league. JJ Redick is the smallest player in their starting lineup standing at 6’4, and they have two of the most entertaining young stars in the league in Ben Simmons a 6’10 point guard and the 7’0 social media troll Joel Embiid. They play a fast pace offense with around 103 possessions a game, and about 30 3 point field goal attempts per game. The thing that is stopping them from really hitting their peak on offense is execution each time down the floor, and not always relying on early in the shot clock 3 point attempts. When playoffs come watch for Brett Brown to really emphasize the offensive execution and also the defensive side of the ball. They must be willing to have full effort all 48 minutes a game. Watch them to potentially make a deep run on the Eastern side.
Washington Wizards:
Staying on the Eastern conference side, it’s been incredible to see what the Wiz kids have been able to do with premier point guard John Wall being out since late January. They have been able to stay in the picture with unselfish team basketball that gets everyone involved. Bradley Beal has shown the potential of being able to lead the team on offense and defense without Wall. When they get Wall back, I look for him to pick up right where he left off, but also taking in what he has seen from the team since he has been gone. They have the experience to make a nice run in the playoffs, but may see a first round situation against LeBron and the Cavs. The problem they will face is the depth of the team as a whole. They will need big contributions from Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jodie Meeks off the bench. What adjustments will Scott Brooks make to keep their offense and defense at constant levels throughout the game. If they drop down to the 7th seed, look for them to knock out the Boston Celtics in a tough series.
Utah Jazz:
Moving into the Western conference, the race is nowhere near over and may take all the way to the last game to see who gets in. The Jazz have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since the all-star break with a 12-4 record. With rookie Donovan Mitchell having a surprising dominant year, and with their all around depth, they’ll be a tough out in the playoffs. They have a great, very underrated head coach in Quinn Snyder that has the team bought in on the defensive side of the game, and great unselfish team play on the offensive side. They are number 3 in the NBA in defensive efficiency, lead by defensive anchor Rudy Gobert. With the addition of Jae Crowder, if they find a way to get that 7th seed, they could become a true threat to the Warriors without Steph.
Portland Trail Blazers:
The Blazers are looking like a sure bet to take the 3rd seed in the playoffs after they completed the season sweep on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lead by Dame Dolla and C.J. McCollum, they have some of the most offensive fire power in the league. Those two could easily average 25+ PPG in the playoffs. They have a great supporting cast around them with experience and talent off the bench. Being top 10 in defensive efficiency and the ability to score and shoot the sky’s the limit. It will come down on to Jusuf Nurkic and his ability to hold it down in the paint for them while staying out of foul trouble. Look for them to win the first round and to give the Warriors a true test if they meet in the 2nd round.
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Last but not least, it’d be hard to leave the Thunder out due to the talent on the roster! They have not been very consistent as a team throughout the entire year, but yet rank 8th in offensive and defensive efficiency in the NBA. They are a team that plays off of their defense and ability to create turnovers and turn them into fast break points. They lead the league in offensive rebounds per game, which turns into leading the league in 2nd chance points. The question will be what Billy does with minute distributions and not leaving an all bench lineup in without Russ, PG, or Melo. It makes sense to continue to give Steven Adams touches in the offense and playing through him, while keeping the amount of turnovers down. If they can be consistent throughout the game, and not let the offense get stagnant they can make a finals run!